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Cognitive improvement following benzodiazepine discontinuation in elderly nursing home residents
Author(s) -
Salzman Carl,
Fisher Janina,
Nobel Kenneth,
Glassman Randy,
Wolfson Abbie,
Kelley Margaret
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.930070205
Subject(s) - benzodiazepine , discontinuation , nursing homes , anxiety , cognition , medicine , psychiatry , psychology , nursing , receptor
In a controlled study, benzodiazepine treatment was gradually discontinued from a group of elderly nursing home residents. In comparison with similar residents who continued on benzodiazepines, measures of memory and cognitive functioning showed significant improvement following discontinuance. There was no associated increase in anxiety, agitation, or sleeplessness. These data are consistent with previous observations suggesting that benzodiazepines impair cognitive function in the elderly and further indicate that such impairment is reversible upon benzodiazepine discontinuance.